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The South Dakota women extended their season on Sunday with an impressive 101-89 win over Minnesota in the second round of the WNIT. 

Initially, it looked like things might be headed the other direction. Behind some hot shooting from Big Ten Player of the Year Rachel Banham and Second Team All-Big Ten selection Carlie Wagner, the Gophers jumped out to a 22-9 first quarter lead. 

South Dakota (28-6) was able cut that deficit to seven by the end of that opening frame and then outscored Minnesota 26-17 in the second to take a 45-43 halftime lead. 

The Coyotes really seized control early in the second half, stretching the lead to as many 18 early in the 4th quarter.

But things would get pretty interesting down the stretch.

Banham and the Gophers made a furious charge, hitting seven of  eight shots, inlcuding five threes, in a span of 3:16 to cut South Dakota's lead to six with 4:42 remaining.

Minnesota (20-12) would get as close as five in the game's final minutes, but the Coyotes managed to salt it away at the free throw line.

Banham led all scorers with 37 points, but took 32 shots to get there. Wagner finished with 18.

South Dakota was much more balanced. Kelly Stewart paced five players in double figures, tying her career-high with 19 points. Nicole Seekamp notched the 10th double-double of her career with 18 and a career-high 14 assists. Seekamp also became the second player in program history to surpass 2,000 points. 

The Coyotes bench outscored Minnesota's 36-19.

South Dakota advances to the WNIT's round of 16 and  will host Northern Iowa on Thursday. It will be the second meeting between the teams this season. The Panthers defeated the Coyotes 64-43 in Cedar Falls on Nov. 17.